Transfer device for a lead wire threading machine



F. T. MAY

Feb. 18, 1958 TRANSFER DEVICE FOR A LEAD WIRE THREADING MACHINE 2 Shets-Sheet l Original Filed May 17, 1954 F. T. MAY 2,823,809 TRANSFER DEVICE FOR A LEAD WIRE 'FI-[READING MACHINE 2 sheets-shee 2 Feb. 18, 1958 Original Filed May 17, 1954 .SQ d@ a-- m WM U I Q QQ HJ mfhmlnm e HMI ILIIIII llll I IUIIIIH l E @u ,wls :n w vw m B .www

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United States Patent O TRANSFER DEVICE FOR A LEAD WIRE THREADING MACHINE Frederick T. May, Verona, N. J., assigno'r to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., 'a corporation `of Pennsylvania Original application May 17, 1954, Serial Ninn-130,240. Divided and this application March 17, 1955, Serial No. 498,508

Claims. (Cl. 214--1) The present invention relates to the manufacture of incandescent lamps and, more particularly, to a transfer device for an incandescent lamp lead wire threading machine.

The subject application is a divisional application of applicants prior application, Serial No. 430,240 led May 17, 1954.

In its general aspect the present invention yhas as its objective Va transfer device for an automatic lead wire threading machine which transfer device is synchronized with the operation of an automatic lamp basing machine.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it appertains as the description thereof proceeds, both by direct recitation and by implication of the content.

v Referring now to the drawings in which like numerals of references indicate similar parts 'throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the lamp transfer mechanism at Station 5 showing the transfer mechanism in its normal non-transfer position.

Fig. 2 is a top elevational view of the lamp transfer mechanism of Fig. l showing the mechanism in its normal non-transfer position.

Fig. 3 is a top elevational view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the lamp transfer mechanism in its transfer `position.

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the lamp transfer mechanism along the lines IV--IV of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of Ithe lamp transfer mechanism along the line V--V of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 5 along the line Vil-VI of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view of the lamp transfer mechanism.

Indexing mechanism Above the table of the lead wire threading machine the lower end of a turret support shaft 22, carries a Geneva driven gear or maltese cross follower 150 (Fig. 1) provided with a plurality of, for example 5 radial Vfollower slots 152 equally spaced about the periphery of the follower 150 and extending inwardly from the p'eriphery toward the center of the Vfollower 150. The periphery of the Geneva follower 150 which connects the follower slots 152 is suitably concaved inwardly and of generally' semi-cylindrical configuration. A rotatable 'Geneva drive gear or driver 154 is fiXed to the upper end of a Geneva drive shaft 156 upstanding (through the table) from the bottom mounting platform (not shown) ofthe frame (not shown) of the lead wire threading machine. This driver 154 carries an outwardly ex- 2,823,809 atented Feb. 181958 ice 2 tending lug for mounting thereon a drive roller 158 engageable in the follower slots 152 for indexing (through rotation of the driver 154) a turret 20.

The drive mechanism (not shown) for theA Geneva drive shaft 156 is described in applicants prior application Ser. No. 430,240, filed Ma'y 17, 19454.

Each of bulb holders 40 (Fig. l) has a bulb holder nest 172 contoured to t the dome of an envelope 72 of a lamp and is carried on the upper end of a bulb holder shaft or spindle 174. This shaft 174 is reciprocable and' rotatable in suitable bushings 175 in a hub 176 of the Iturret 20. The lower portions of the shaft 1x74 which 'extends below the hub 176 carry, in order, a bulb` holder' rotating gear 1.78 of a bulb holder rotating mechanism (not shown) andl a pull down arm (not shown) on the lower extremity for engagement with the pull down mechanism (notshown) of the threading machine. i

Referring particularly to Fig. l, the spindle 174 is providedv with a vertical axial hole adjacent the lower portions of the hub 176 for retention therein of a recovery spring. A pin 1184 `extends through a retaining ring 185, a vertical` pin clearance slot 186 in the spindle 176, a recovery spring retaining insert 187 and thence through the slot 186 and the ring 185. A generally U-shaped ring retaining' bracket 188, secured by bolts to the hub 176 retains the ring 185 against the bottom of the hub 176. 187 rotate with the spindle 176 but do not reciprocate therewith.

The turret 20 is provided with mount rod hubs 189 (Figs. 1 and 2). Each` of the hubs 189 carries an upstanding mount rod 190. As shown in section in Fig. `l, a bulb holding jaw mounting plate 1'92 is secured to the mount rods 190. This plate 192 (Figs. 1, 2) carries a pair of upstanding bulb holding jaw operating shafts 193 (Fig. 2) on which are mounted a pair of meshing gears 194, and a pair of spring biased bulb holding jaws 196 (Fig. 3).

An operating lever 200 (Figs. l, 2, 3 and 4) carried on the lower portions of the driver shaft 193 carries a suitable roller for engagement with a reciprocating cam 20-2 carried on the bulb transfer mechanism 104 of the lead wire `threading machine, or Vfor hand operation `to facilitate the loading of a lamp 70 into a head 40. Between stations (Fig. 2) the roller on the operating lever 200 engages a stationary cam 203 mounted, as hereinafter explained on the lamp transfer mechanism 104 to open the jaws 196. It will be understood that as the roller lon the `operating' lever 200 engages the reciprocating cam 202 (Figs. l and 2) that the driver gear 194 is rotated clockwise and the driven gear 194 is rotated counterclockwise (from 'the plan view of the jaws), thus opening the jaws 1-96 to permit the transfer or removal of a lamp 70 from a head 40 by the transfer mechanism 104. l

Transfer mechanism The lamp transfer mechanism `104 (Figs. 1 7) has a `vertical pinion shaft 51'6 extending through hollow support shaft 22 of the turret 20 and a transfer mechanisin mounting bracket 517 fixed to the top of the support shaft 22. As shown particularly in Figs. l, 2, 3, 5, the shaft 516 carries la pinion drive gear 518 on its upper end (Fig. 1i). The mechanism (not shown) for rotating the shaft 516 `is described `in applica-nts copending applicatiomSerial'No. 430,240, tiled May 17., 1954.

It will be understood that the ring 185, and insert i As shown in Figs. 1 through 7, the transfer mechanism mounting bracket 517 has a guide housing portion 520 of generally U-shaped vertical cross section. A slide 522 (Figs. 4 through 6) provided with a longitudinal clearance slot for the shaft 516 is slidable within the guide housing 520. The slide 522 (Fig. 5) carries a gear rack 524 which is in engagement with the drive gear 518 on the shaft 516.

In addition to the rack 524, the slide 522 also carries the reciprocating bulb holder jaw opening cam 2,02 (Figs. l, 2, 3, 4). This cam 202 is essentially a longitudinal horizontal plate provided with a horizontally inclined right hand end portion (when viewed in Fig. 2) along which the roller on the end of the operating lever 200 of a bulb holder head 40 may ride.

As shown particularly in Fig. 6 the left hand end of the guide housing 520 (when viewed in Fig. 2) carries a cam mounting bracket 528 upon which the hereinbefore mentioned stationary bulb holder jaw opening cam 203 is mounted. It will be recalled that the cam 203 opens the bulb holder jaws 196 of a bulb holder head 40 between stations as described in applicants copending application Ser. No. 430,240, filed May 17, 1954.

In Figs. l, 2, 3 the right hand end portion of the slide 522 carries a bulb transfer head 530, shown particularly in detail in Fig. 7. A body 532 of each head 530 is secured thereon by means of a pin 534 which serves as a horizontal pivot of a universal joint, thus permitting rotation of the head 530 in a horizontal plane.

The body 532 (Fig. 7) has a generally hollow vacuum line portion and is connected to a vacuum transfer cup 536 by means of a ball and socket joint of the above mentioned universal joint. The ball and socket joint permits vertical movement of the cup 536 with respect to the body 532. The cup 536 carries a rubber ring 538 which serves as a seal between the cup 536 and the envelope 72 of a lamp 70. A pair of split semi-cylindrical spring retaining Sleeves or spring holders 540 are contained within the hollow portion of the body 532. A pin 542 extends through clearance holes in the body 532 and the ball and socket joint and the split sleeves 540. A spring extending from a stop 543 to a suitable shoulder provided in both of the sleeves 540 exerts pressure on the pin 542 and permits slight longitudinal adjustment to allow for variations in the diameter of lamp envelopes 72. A vacuum line 546 extends from a suitable vacuum supply (not shown) to the hollow portion of the transfer head body 532.

Operation It will be understood that when a lamp 70 held in a bulb holder head 40 is indexed into the transfer station of the lead wire threading machine, the envelope 72 rides against the rubber ring 538. During the contact between the envelope 72 and the ring 538 it will be understood that the pivotable movement of the body S32 (Fig. 7), in a horizontal plane about the pin 534 permits horizontal adjustments between the transfer cup 536 and the envelope to seat the envelope 72 in the ring 538. The ball and socket joint between the transfer cup 536 and the transfer head body 532 similarly provides for vertical angular adjustments therebetween. The 'clearance slots in the body S34 through which the pin 542 extends (due to the action of the spring within the sleeves 540) provides some longitudinal axial adjustment between the envelope 72 `and the ring 538.

In addition, when a lamp 70 and a head 40 index into the transfer station the roller on the operating lever 200 of a head 40 comes to rest against the inclined portion of the cam 202 on the slide 522.

It will be understood that after the envelope 72 has engaged the ring 538 of the transfer lcup 536 that the `vacuum on the line 546 (Figs. 2 and 7) is actuated' by means (not shown), such as cam action to securely hold 4 the lamp 70 therein. Shortly thereafter a head pulldown mechanism (not shown) lowers the bulb holder nests 172 of the bulb holder head 40 of the machine 10 thus leaving the lamp 70 held by the bulb holder jaws -196 and the trannfer cup 536.

As shown in Figs. l and 2 the mechanism (not shown) for rotating the shaft S16 will at a predetermined time rotate the shaft 516 and the gears 514 and 518 on the shaft S16 rotate in a counterclockwise direction. As a result the gear rack 524 carried by the slide 522 and the transfer head 530 will be moved to the right (when viewed in Figs. 2 and 3). This movement causes the roller on the operating lever 200 of a head 40 to ride along the cam 202, open the jaws 196 and to permit the transfer of the lamp 70 to a position above a head 106 of a basing machine. v

The vacuum within the transfer head 530 is cut. off, releasing the lamp 70. The drive mechanism for the shaft 516 returns the transfer mechanism 104 to its starting position through a reversal of the above described linkage.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it will be understood that modications may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim: l. In combination for a lead wire threading machine a lamp holder head having support means for supporting a vlamp and gripping means for gripping said supported lamp, and a lamp transfer device comprising a lamp transferhead adapted to be engaged with the lamp to be transferred, moving means to move said transfer head toward and away from said lamp in said lamp holder head, opening means carried by said moving means and op.- erable to open said gripping means after securement of said lamp in said transfer head, and means to apply a vacuum to said transfer head to secure said lamp therein. 2. In combination for a lead wire threading machine a lamp holder head having a vertically reciprocable support for supporting a lamp and a pair of pivoted members for gripping said supported lamp, and a lamp transfer device comprising a lamp transfer head adapted to be engaged with the lamp to be transferred, moving means to move said transfer head toward and away from said lamp in said lamp holder head, opening means carried by said moving means and operable to open said gripping means after securement of said lamp in said transfer head, and Ameans to apply a vacuum to said transfer head to secure said lamp therein.

3. In combination for a lead wire threading machine a lamp holder head having support means for supporting a lamp Vand gripping means for gripping said supported lamp, and a lamp transfer device comprising a pivoted universal jointed lamp transfer head adapted to be engaged with the lamp to be transferred, moving means to move said transfer head toward and away from said lamp in said lamp holder head, opening means carried by said moving means and operable to open said gripping means after securement of said lamp in said transfer head, and means to apply a vacuum to said transfer head to secure said lamp therein.

, 4. In combination for a lead wire threading machine a lamp holder head having support means for supporting a lamp and gripping means for gripping said supported lamp, and a lamp transfer device comprising a lamp transfer head adapted to be engaged with the lamp to be transferred, `having a rack andpinion to move said transfer head towardand away from said lamp in said lamp holder head, opening means carried by said moving means and operable to open said gripping means after securemeut `of said lamp in said transfer head, and means to apply a vacuum tok said transfer head to secure said lamp therein.

5. In combination for a lead wire threading machine a llamp holder head having support means for supporting 'aflarnp and gripping means for gripping said supported lamp, and a lamp transfer device comprising a lamp transfer head adapted to be engaged with the lamp to be References Cited inthe le of this patent transferred, moving means to move said transfer head toward and away from said lamp in said lamp holder UNITED STATES PATENTS head, a cam carried by said moving means and operable 2,069,086 Donovan etal Jan. 26, 1937 to open said gripping means after securement of said 5 2,247,787 Schmidt July l, 1941 lamp in said transfer head, and means to apply a vacuum 2,554,013 Cooper et al. May 22, 1951 to said transfer head to secure said lamp therein. 2,652,931 Hughes Sept. 22, 1953 

